Writing a Summary a Novel For Reviews - How Much Plot Should You Give Away?
I enjoy writing reviews on Amazon, and always submit one for every book I've read.
I make it a rule never to read the other reviews of the book before I compose my own.
I don't want to be influenced by the opinions of others, at this stage.
Then I enjoy looking at what other people have thought.
However, the main difficulty facing a reader is when he or she is considering whether to buy/read a novel, and decides to read a few reviews first.
How can their appetite be whetted, without being spoilt? To my mind, the point of a fiction review is to convey the quality of a reading experience.
It is not to provide a synopsis of the novel; a temptation some reviewers can fall prey to.
All novels depend upon a number of key questions, the answers to which are unravelled throughout the story.
As prospective buyers, we want reviewers to tell us how they felt about the answers the author provided to some of these questions, without revealing the plot twist that evoked the feeling.
And a rule of thumb is: by all means tell the reader what you felt, but do not reveal the event in the plot that gave rise to it.
To help you in this regard, consider the phrases that skilful reviewers may use: "There are new revelations right up to the conclusion"; or "I thought this would be a simple story about...
I was wrong...
the more I read the more questions I had"; "relationships are forged and shattered...
with dangerous consequences for (the protagonist)" and "I was never sure who the 'goodies and baddies' were supposed to be and wanted to keep turning pages to find out".
A reviewer may tease the reader with the phrase: "what I did discover, by the end, was...
" and then continue: "...
that none of the characters were that simple...
rather like real life in fact!" Other useful comments can include: "The ending came as a surprise to me" and "new twists and revelations on every page" or "The twists kept me guessing right to the end.
" When a reviewer uses these kinds of phrases, he or she is conveying to others the quality of their own reading experience, without undercutting the enjoyment of prospective readers.
Sometimes people struggle to write a review, not knowing how to go about it.
And yet ultimately it is simply the sharing of a journey - a journey with a particular story, and a certain group of characters.
Remember, you are communicating to others, and they want to know, perhaps, the flavour and the highlights of your journey, but not a detailed list of directions and landmarks and mileage counts.
A final point is that I believe reviews should not be too long.
I would say, indeed, that250 words is probably the maximum desirable length.
Of course, reviews in the national press are a different matter, and conform to the editor's requirements.
But for online reviews this is sufficient.
Give the prospective buyer a clear and honest response, using simple words, and remember you are not writing a synopsis!
I make it a rule never to read the other reviews of the book before I compose my own.
I don't want to be influenced by the opinions of others, at this stage.
Then I enjoy looking at what other people have thought.
However, the main difficulty facing a reader is when he or she is considering whether to buy/read a novel, and decides to read a few reviews first.
How can their appetite be whetted, without being spoilt? To my mind, the point of a fiction review is to convey the quality of a reading experience.
It is not to provide a synopsis of the novel; a temptation some reviewers can fall prey to.
All novels depend upon a number of key questions, the answers to which are unravelled throughout the story.
As prospective buyers, we want reviewers to tell us how they felt about the answers the author provided to some of these questions, without revealing the plot twist that evoked the feeling.
And a rule of thumb is: by all means tell the reader what you felt, but do not reveal the event in the plot that gave rise to it.
To help you in this regard, consider the phrases that skilful reviewers may use: "There are new revelations right up to the conclusion"; or "I thought this would be a simple story about...
I was wrong...
the more I read the more questions I had"; "relationships are forged and shattered...
with dangerous consequences for (the protagonist)" and "I was never sure who the 'goodies and baddies' were supposed to be and wanted to keep turning pages to find out".
A reviewer may tease the reader with the phrase: "what I did discover, by the end, was...
" and then continue: "...
that none of the characters were that simple...
rather like real life in fact!" Other useful comments can include: "The ending came as a surprise to me" and "new twists and revelations on every page" or "The twists kept me guessing right to the end.
" When a reviewer uses these kinds of phrases, he or she is conveying to others the quality of their own reading experience, without undercutting the enjoyment of prospective readers.
Sometimes people struggle to write a review, not knowing how to go about it.
And yet ultimately it is simply the sharing of a journey - a journey with a particular story, and a certain group of characters.
Remember, you are communicating to others, and they want to know, perhaps, the flavour and the highlights of your journey, but not a detailed list of directions and landmarks and mileage counts.
A final point is that I believe reviews should not be too long.
I would say, indeed, that250 words is probably the maximum desirable length.
Of course, reviews in the national press are a different matter, and conform to the editor's requirements.
But for online reviews this is sufficient.
Give the prospective buyer a clear and honest response, using simple words, and remember you are not writing a synopsis!
